The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-02-26
DOGS WHO OWNED HIM.
Stories Showing How They Pos
sessed Their Master"
Old Fop Who Ate Fruit-small Fan with
Big Heart-Nora's Way of Prving
Up a Window-Restless Fidget.

have been owned by good many
dogs in the course of my life, and am
not little proud of the fact. They say
it is good sign in man when children
and dogs take kindly to him. All dogs
take kindly to me, andI look upon it as
an Endorsement of some merit in my
character. The first desire of every
well-balanced dog is to own man.
Without such possession he is spurned
by his fellows and despised by small
boys.
All dogs know at once whether a
stranger Of their own race owns man
or not. Whether it is the hang of his
ears and tail, or general negligence
about his personal appearance, or lack
sbf confidence in his general bearing,
can not say, but certain it is that all
well-fxed, or ill-fixed, dogs at once de-
tcct a manless brother bow-wOw. The
tramp-dog recognizes his fellow tramp
dogs, and consorts with him.
There are dogs who are tramps by
nature, who will never stick to mas
ter; but such cases, am happy to say,
are very rare--more rare than even
tramp-cats, who, one would think. from
their natural love of warmth and COM
fort. would jump at any kind Of a de-
cent home. And yeti am personally
acquainted with several tramp-cats, and
very nice, decent cats, too.
Some men think they own dogs, and
perhaps few of them do, but as gem
eral rule the dog owns the man. For
my part, would not care two straws
for dog had to own. prefer being
owned, and glory in my servitude.
The first dog remember who took
possession of me was a black and white
spaniel, which my father brought home
I. when was a boy. 1t selected me at
once, out of six children, as its master,
and it Glove to me ever after. We chris
4 tened him Fop. He was not fop.
however, but a rather grouty old dog,
with a chronic growl, which meant
nothing.
have never seen another dog with
that growl. He would growl and wag
his tail at the same time. He growled
when he was pleased, just as cat
purrs. He was most intelligent dog,
and understood every word l said to
him. There was no need of any motion
of the hands, or even of the mouth or
eyes. 1t was notnecessary even to look
at him to make him comprehend.
He used to be in ecstasies if would
allow him to accompany me in my
walks; but were l going to any place
where I could not take him, I had only
to say, "Fop, go home," and he would
sink slowly back, looking round every
now and then with the most piteous ex.
preston, in hope of seeing some show
Of relenting ON my part. Then, if I did
relent, he would come tearing after me
and whirl himself round and round, like
pin-wheel ON the Fourth of July.
Fop was very fond of fruit, and would
make excursions round the garden when
the gooseberries were ripe and pick
them off the bushes. In cherry time
used often to climb up the trees to picR
the fruit perhaps no boy ever did such
thing before), which would throw
down, while Fop kept guard below
He never thought of touching one till
gave him permission, but when said
..Those are for you, Fop," be would
pounce on the bunch indicated like ca
on mouse, and gobble it up immedi
ately.
Fopused to do many wonderful things
am certain, though forget now wha
they were, for he reigned forty year
ago. He stuck to me faithfully TO
many years, and, 1 know, would neve
have given me up, had he not beer
stolen one day in the crowded streets
never saw the poor fellow again.
The next dog, remember, VIII
owned me was King Charles spaniel
which was so small that it could stan
on the palm of my hand. She too
possession of me; so I had to buy he
for two dollars and half, which was
pretty good price for a dog in thos
days. Though her body was small, he
heart was as big as a lions. She wa
I afraid Of nothing, and would have al
tackled an ironclad if it had come in he
way.
One day saw her run after and fur
ously assail huge Newfoundland dog
big enough to swallow her whole lik
an oyster. AS soon us the big dog b'
came aware that he was attacked,
turned round his head, gave one loo
at the tiny aggressor, and then, wit
the magnanimitY peculiar to dog
walked on without taking any furths
notice.
Another time took her out to wal
across the fields to place where the
were building railway bridge over
dixie or ditch about forty feet wild
The roadway of the bridge was M
completed, but a single beam OF timb
ran from the top Of one bank to Il
other.
Over this crossed, but my little dt
Fan did not notice it, When she sa
me at the other side, she scamper'
down to the water's edge, and aft
shifting at once or twice, plunged
and swan after me.
The middle OF the stream was fill
with weeds, and in these she became